Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Romeo and Juliet Act I: question 2
2. Compare and contrast the relationships that Juliet has with her mother and the nurse. Offer a brief description of each woman. What does each woman offer in terms of raising Juliet? How do you feel about her interactions with each? Due Tuesday 2/23/10 by midnight.
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Juliet’s relationships with her nurse and with her mother are very singular because of the differences in status, behaviors, and the role of communication. The characters are opposites in numerous ways and the descriptions of these characters have an impact on Juliet’s feelings toward them. Juliet’s mother is young because she had Juliet when she was only a teenager. She tries to maintain the image of being beautiful as she grows older. She is fashionable and dresses in elegant clothing. She is strict and severe with Juliet because young ladies are supposed to obey their elders. This is exemplified, as well, when she tells the nurse not to make jokes that are indecent. She is very proper in her conduct around the house. Juliet’s mother is part of the noble class, meaning that she is very wealthy and has to follow certain rules of etiquette in order to keep a good reputation among her peers. The nurse is almost the converse of Juliet’s mother. She is sarcastic and sometimes inappropriate in what she says. For example, she told the joke about Juliet’s naiveté about sexual relationships when she was younger. In addition, the nurse’s personality is extremely rough. She does not speak in poetry like the other characters in the play. The nurse is older than Juliet’s mother by a great amount. She always likes situations which make her laugh, and she is a peasant, meaning that she is particularly poor. Their personalities offer different advantages as Juliet is growing up.
Overall, Juliet’s mother has more of a distant approach to communicating with Juliet, and her nurse has a more familiar, affable approach. Juliet’s mother offers an example of what a noble woman should look and act like, giving Juliet someone to look up to and aspire to be like. She displays ideal manners, so Juliet will follow. She also sets policies for the servants in the house so Juliet will see how she would need to run her own home in the future. I would imagine that Juliet’s mother also teaches her some lessons in dancing, sewing, and etiquette to give her an idea of what is proper and what is not. Juliet’s nurse offers a different set of advantages. The nurse shows Juliet a lighthearted personality. She is someone that Juliet can talk to and be friends with. She tells Juliet jokes, showing her how to have a sense of humor. She is very easygoing, as well, which shows Juliet another point of view than that of her mother. In my opinion, Juliet’s interactions with her mother are more formal. She hides things from her mother that she does not want her to know. Juliet also is untruthful with her mother because their relationship is not very close. I think that Juliet’s mother regrets that she was not very close to Juliet. For instance, when the nurse talked about how Capulet and Lady Capulet had missed Juliet’s first steps, Juliet’s mother immediately told the nurse to be quiet. Being absent during significant events in a child’s life is also common with parents today. Some parents work all day and do not see their children until the night, and now, baby sitters and days care are frequently used resources. With the nurse, Juliet has a closer relationship. They are more trusting with each other. They share their true feelings. It is almost as if the nurse is Juliet’s true mother since she is the person who breastfeeds her and raises her.
The differences in their relationships create the conflict of Juliet’s secrecy in the story. If Juliet didn’t have a collaborator, it would have been difficult to pursue Romeo’s love and therefore, there would be no story. Juliet’s relationship with her mother is more formal and distant than with her nurse. It is easy to get the sense that Juliet hides some of her feelings from her mother. Juliet’s relationship with her nurse is dissimilar. With her nurse, Juliet is more open. She is very close to her nurse because the nurse essentially raises her instead of her mother. This is shown when Juliet asks her nurse to find out about Romeo after the party, not her mother. Juliet is able to show her true feelings to the nurse. In conclusion, Juliet has conflicting relationships with both her mother and her nurse, both of which benefit her in various ways.
Juliet has very different relationships with her nurse and her mother, Lady Capulet. The nurse is a very warm and loving woman who raised Juliet from birth. The nurse lost her own child at a young age, and loves Juliet as if she were her own. She is a very high-ranking Capulet servant and helps Juliet and Romeo arrange their marriage. Also, the nurse’s personality is a little odd, because she often makes very provocative remarks. Lady Capulet, however, is a different story. Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet are very wealthy nobles. Lady Capulet, along with most noble women, takes great pride in the way that she dresses and wears her hair. Lady Capulet did not help to raise Juliet, and is not sure how to relate to her. A good example of this, found in Act 1, Scene 3, pg. 35, is when Lady Capulet is confronting Juliet about marrying Paris. In this scene, Lady Capulet asks the nurse to leave while she discusses marriage with Juliet; however, she quickly changes her mind and asks the nurse to come back into the room. This shows that Lady Capulet hasn’t had much experience with talking to Juliet. However, the nurse is very comfortable around Juliet; she even has a nickname for her which is Jule. Also, as seen on page 35, Lady Capulet doesn’t even know how old Juliet, her own daughter is.
Along with interacting differently with Juliet, the nurse and Lady Capulet also offer different terms in raising Juliet. Juliet’s mother is able to offer Juliet money, fine clothes, a nice house, and other material possessions. The nurse offers Juliet love, guidance, attention, and most of all friendship. To me, the description of a mother is not the woman that gives birth to you, but the woman who cares for and raises you. So in my opinion the nurse is more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet. The nurse is the one that breast-feed Juliet, played with her, and taught Juliet to be the person that she is. To me it seems like Juliet is nervous around her mother. Using the movie as an example, when Juliet is called in to talk to her mother, she makes sure to straighten her dress and hair before entering the room. She is probably scared that her mother would scold her on her appearance. Juliet also seems eager whenever her mother wants a word with her. This shows that talking and interacting with her mother is a rare treat for Juliet. Personally, I find it sad that at you can barely know your daughter even after 14 years with her.
Juliet has a very different relationship with her actual birth mother than with the nurse. Juliet’s mother does not raise her like most mothers do today. Juliet’s mother dresses very nicely and elegantly and makes sure Juliet is presentable. When it comes to raising Juliet as a child though, the nurse takes the credit.
Back when Juliet was born, their family hired a nurse who also was pregnant at the time. This way the nurse would be able to nurse and feed Juliet as a baby. In this situation the nurse’s baby died so the she ended up becoming really close and thinking of Juliet as more of a daughter. In this story the nurse is comical and makes sexual or inappropriate jokes. She helps Juliet get ready everyday and spends a lot of time with her. I would say that the nurse and Juliet are closer than Juliet and her mother. When Lady Capulet wants to talk to Juliet about marriage, at first she tells the nurse to leave the room, but then asks her to come back because she never really talks to Juliet alone. (page 35) Also the mother isn’t even real sure of Juliet’s age, but the nurse clearly knows. (page 35-37) The nurse is close enough to Juliet that she even calls her “Jule” (page 37)
I think that Juliet likes and has more fun with the nurse than her mother. I think the nurse is someone she can be open and talk freely too, while she might not feel as comfortable with her mother. I don’t know how I would feel about someone else raising my child, but for the time period this was normal. I also believe that because the nurse and Juliet are so close it is good for her to have someone like that in her life to be able to talk to, and trust.
Romeo and Juliet Act 1: Question 2
The Nurse operates more as a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet, her real mother, does. She breast fed young Juliet from the day she was born. She is a very comical woman who can lighten up the mood with inappropriate sexual remarks. Looking past her immature innuendoes, Juliet has a great deal of respect towards the nurse. The Nurse is a very devoted friend, and supports Juliet’s passion for Romeo. A major discrepancy between the nurse and Juliet is that Juliet is naive when it comes to love, and the nurse’s outlook on love gyrates around sex. Juliet cannot comprehend the nurse’s vulgarity. Juliet’s biological mother, Lady Capulet, has minimal influence on Juliet’s life. She married early in her teenage years. Lady Capulet is antsy to see her daughter wed Paris, whom Juliet does not feel affection for. The distinct resemblance among the Nurse and Lady Capulet is their curiosity for Juliet’s love life. When it comes to raising Juliet, the two fluctuate immensely. The Nurse is very engaged in Juliet’s overall welfare, while Lady Capulet has diminutive entailment in her life. Personally I deem Lady Capulet as a meager mother for her lack of authority in her daughter’s life. I give the Nurse immense tribute to her compliance toward Juliet. Is Juliet’s love concern with Romeo being guided under the most suitable hands?
Juliet has two very different types of relationships with her mother and her Nurse. Juliet’s Nurse is a jovial, good-natured woman who has a likeable, easy-going personality. The Nurse adds humor to the play by telling sexual and socially unacceptable jokes. Also, Juliet’s Nurse is not in the social circle of the wealthy like the Capulets are; she is merely a poor nurse working for a wealthy family. Lady Capulet is quite the opposite of the Nurse in many aspects. Lady Capulet is wealthy and is concerned about being socially acceptable in the upper class category of people (unlike the Nurse). Her personality is much more proper and uncomfortable then the Nurse as well. The Nurse was able to act as more of a confidante to Juliet than Lady Capulet. For example, Juliet was much more comfortable asking the Nurse about Romeo rather than asking her mother. The Nurse loves and cares for Juliet as if Juliet were her own daughter, and Juliet feel very comfortable and at ease with the Nurse. Lady Capulet, however, has a much different relationship with Juliet. Juliet’s mother acts as more of a social role model. By example, Lady Capulet has taught Juliet how to behave and dress in a socially acceptable way. Financial support was also offered by Juliet’s biological parents rather than her Nurse. I feel as though Juliet has a much more personal relationship with the Nurse and is able to relate to her much more easily. Both the Nurse and Lady Capulet love Juliet very much, but the Nurse is a much more reliant mother figure. Lady Capulet has missed out on a lot of important events in Juliet’s life, but the Nurse was always a constant for Juliet.
Juliet’s relationship with her own mother is very different compared to the relationship she has with the nurse. The nurse raised Juliet from birth, breastfeeding her and treating her with love. Juliet is like the nurse’s daughter. The nurse had a child around the same time Juliet’s mother had her but it died, so she feels especially close to Juliet. Juliet and the nurse have a very close relationship, much like a mother and daughter. Juliet and her mother, however, have a very rigid and formal relationship. Juliet’s mother is always concerned about how she looks in high society. She has no time to get close to Juliet, as she is always worrying about fashion, parties, and looking young. Juliet views her mother as the discipliner, as opposed to someone she is able to talk to. The nurse and Mrs. Capulet are two very different people to begin with. The nurse is a peasant, so she is poor and most likely uneducated. She is very laid back, always making sexual jokes and comments. She has a very warm and kind personality. Juliet’s mother is exactly the opposite. She is a member of Verona’s high society, and as a result is very worried about looks and proper etiquette. She is very tightly wound and has a firm, almost harsh personality. Juliet looks to the nurse to be her confidant. She knows that the nurse is always there to comfort her and give her advice. Her mother, on the other hand, is someone Juliet obeys and follows, but doesn’t necessarily have a good relationship with. Her mother is there to force the rules of society on her. I feel that Juliet would much rather talk to the nurse and be with her than she would her own mother. I think it is very sad that she feels she can’t go talk to her mother about things that are happening in her life. Juliet loves the nurse, but I wonder if she ever resents her at times because she is the reason Juliet isn’t close to her own mother.
Juliet's relationship with her mother and the nurse are incredibly different from one another. Juliet seems very comfortable talking to the nurse about everything, but she seems awkward around her mother. Even though Lady Capulet gave birth to Juliet, she doesn't act like the mother most of us think of. I would say the motherly figure would be the nurse because she has taken care of Juliet since she was born. The nurse offers care and caters to Juliet's every will, but the mother doesn't really offer much of anything to Juliet besides advice on who to marry. Lady Capulet seems very strong-willed, uncomfortable talking to her daughter, a bit ignorant of what Juliet wants, and a high regard for her family's reputation. The nurse seems to be very comfortable with herself, cares for Juliet like she's her own daughter, and comical. Juliet's interaction with her mother is very stiff and formal, unlike with the nurse. The nurse and Juliet joke around and are relaxed around one another. In Act 1, Scene 3 of the play (page 31) the nurse is kindly joking about Juliet's childhood. And Lady Capulet coldly tells the nurse to "hold thy peace". To me, Lady Capulet seems very rude and snobbish. Although these two relationships are very different, I think everyone would agree that both women care for the well-being of Juliet.
I find the difference in relationships Juliet has with her nurse and her mother to be quite fascinating. Juliet’s nurse is obviously much more at ease around Juliet than is her mother, as the nurse was the one that has been raising Juliet since Juliet was an infant. Although this may have been a common occurrence in the time of Shakespeare, it would seem odd when compared to today’s standards. Parents today are expected to enjoy raising their children, valuing the time they are able to spend together. Generally even the very wealthy raise their own children by themselves, or perhaps with the assistance of a maid or two. This was clearly not the manner of nurture in the past.
The nurse is a rather humorous, laid-back woman. She’s bright and cheerful and always looks at life through her own positive filter, even though she remains at the bottom of the social class. In essence I consider the nurse to be a very humble and ardent character; a sweet dandelion among thorny roses.
Juliet’s mother, on the other hand, is a prim and proper lady of the highest standards. She religiously follows class etiquette, as well as the definition of how a lady is supposed to act. She is stiff and formal; very aware of her appearance and posture. It is much more difficult for Juliet’s mother to speak with Juliet, because they have not spent an appropriate amount of time bonding with one another. Juliet’s mother is there for her daughter, but only in the form of a teacher. Juliet is expected to learn the “art of being a lady” from her mother”. Again, with the nurse things are much different. The nurse offers Juliet her love and compassion, stories and insight. It is the nurse that really loves Juliet and makes her grow into the young woman that she is quickly becoming.
I think it’s sad that Juliet and her mother are maintaining a poor relationship. In the end, however, I feel that it is Juliet’s mother that is actually missing out. Juliet already has her own mother, and is not missing out in that aspect. However, Juliet’s mother does not have a true daughter: one that she is able to spend ample time and love with.
RE: Andrea Miller
Yes Andrea, I do think we can all agree that both the nurse and Lady Capulet care very much for Juliet, and concern themselves, in some instances, a bit too much with her love life. I also agree with you in saying that the nurse has an incredible maternal role in Juliet’s life, but I also feel that she was much more Juliet’s friend then her mother. I think a lot of us forget that back in Romeo and Juliet’s time, Lady Capulet was the ideal mother. She was the woman of the house, and was aware of her family status and the reputation they must hold to. So, in many ways, Lady Capulet was much more the mother who set boundaries, and protected her family’s best interest. While on the other hand the nurse, while having a very strong role in Juliet’s life, I feel that it was more of a friendship then a mother-daughter relationship. Though she did nurture Juliet as a child and took part in raising her, she takes on much more of a close friend role, rather than a mother. A lot of us now often times look at our mother’s as our friends as well, but in most cases they are our friends until we do something they don’t condone. Then suddenly we’re grounded for a week not really knowing how to feel. In Juliet’s case, she has two women to play this role. Lady Capulet is the enforcer, while the nurse is the friend. It is apparent both of them care for Juliet, they just portray it differently.
RE: Danny’s Blog
Danny’s comment shows that he and I are on the same page. I concur with Danny that the nurse is represented more as a mother figure than Juliet’s biological mother. This is evident for a reason; Juliet and the nurse have shared the moments that a mother and her child are meant to share. This began ever since Juliet was born. The nurse was the one who breast fed Juliet when she was a baby, not Lady Capulet. The nurse was also the one who spent all her time with Juliet, growing closer together as time went on. These are the times mothers and daughters are supposed to bond with one another. The nurse simply just took the place of Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet is so far off from being Juliet mother figure; she doesn’t even know how to speak to her own daughter without the nurse’s help. A friendship is also present throughout Juliet and the nurse’s relationship. Their friendship makes it comfortable enough for Juliet to confide in the nurse about what is going on in her life.
In the case of Juliet’s mother and the nurse, the roles seem to be reversed. Juliet’s mother acts more as an outsider than family and the nurse seems to act as her true mother. Lady Capulet seems cold, hard and awkward when she relates with Juliet. She treats Juliet as a business colleague rather than family. The nurse on the other hand, is soft and playful and loving towards Juliet. She acts as her best friend, confidant and motherly figure. Juliet’s mother gave birth to her and instructed the nurse on how she should be raised, but other than that, had no hand in her upbringing. The nurse truly raised Juliet. She has been with her since the day she was born. She nursed her and taught her everything she knows. The nurse knows more about Juliet than anyone else and I feel that this is what truly makes a mother and that the nurse is Juliet’s true mother.
I agree with Andrea. The nurse, though not truly her mother in the sense of blood, is more her mother/best friend because of her experiences and her lasting relationship with Juliet. Her mother's relationship is cold and distant, though she gave birth to her daughter, she has no strong connection to her. She disregards Juliet's wants, and focuses only on her reputation within their social circle.
Re: Doug Squires
Doug, I do agree with you when you say that it is unfortunate that Lady Capulet is missing out on a real relationship with her daughter. Like you said, she does not get to share her love or spend time with her daughter, and because Juliet has found a motherly sort of guidance in the Nurse, Juliet doesn’t look to her mother as such an important part of her life.
I think that Juliet’s mother is more of a supervisor to Juliet than an actual mother. She is a source of knowledge to Juliet, but it does not mean that they are close. In the book and the movie, the scene where Lady Capulet wants to talk to Juliet alone is quite awkward and stiff, and that is why she calls the nurse back in the room to make things easier on both of them. I feel as if Juliet’s mother does not know her daughter well enough that they can have even a quiet conversation.
Re: Andrea Miller I agree with you a 100%. The nurse is a very strong figure in Juliet’s life. Her relationship with her mother is very stiff. He mother didn’t even know how to talk to Juliet. She had told the nurse to leave the room, but then had called her back into the room, so it wouldn’t be as awkward. The nurse often jokes with Juliet as she would be her sister, not even an adult figure in her life. They share a very strong bond with each other as they have spent 13 years together. The nurse means very much to Juliet as she is her person that she trusts with everything. She could never tell her mother the things that she tells the nurse. He mother almost seems as an acquaintance to Juliet more than a “mother.” If you think about it, it is a very sad thought that the relationship is that strained and distant.
The nurse has known Juliet from birth, and therefore loves her as if she were her own daughter. The daughter of the nurse would have been about the same age as Juliet, but unfortunately she died at a very early age. When this happened the nurse looked upon Juliet more and more as her own child. The nurse is a very lively old lady, with a big smile. She is almost always joking with everyone. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, is a woman who is very concerned about appearance, and about what other people think of her. She is extremely uninvolved in the life of young Juliet. She doesn’t know exactly how to talk to her, because she never actually had. Instead Lady Capulet let the nurse be with her daughter, to care for her, and to watch her grow up. Though Lady Capulet loves Juliet, it is a much different kind of love than that of the nurse. The nurse isn’t afraid to show her love for Juliet, and she isn’t afraid to joke with her a little bit. On the other hand, Lady Capulet has a hard time having a simple conversation with her own daughter. I think that Lady Capulet has love to give, but just doesn’t know how to give it. That is part of what makes up the enormous difference in the characters of the nurse, and Lady Capulet.
RE: Molly’s post
I agree with your comments about the relationships between Juliet and her mother and Juliet and her nurse. The nurse is obviously more of a motherly figure to Juliet. I feel it is because Lady Capulet did not want to do any of the dirty work when Juliet was younger. Lady Capulet didn’t connect with her daughter as she should have and that is why their relationship is so uncomfortable. Since Lady Capulet didn’t take the time to be a mother to Juliet they have lost the connection that a mother and daughter usually have. Instead of Juliet going to her mother for advice, she goes to her nurse. I have found it weird that after all that the nurse has done for the Capulet’s that they are not more grateful for her services. It is easy to tell that Lady Capulet is not very fond of the nurse for some odd reason. There seems to be a lot of tension between Juliet’s mother and her nurse. I think that Lady Capulet does not like the idea of another woman taking care of her daughter anymore, but Juliet is so attached to the nurse that she cannot be fired. I would have to agree with your comments about how Juliet’s mother missed out on a lot of important events in Juliet’s life, and the nurse is a more motherly figure.
Juliet seems to have grown up with two different perspectives of a mother. The nurse is more of a fun loving, caring mother that has raised Juliet like her own. She breast fed Juliet when she was a baby, taught her everything Juliet needs to know, and has taught Juliet how to dance and have fun. Juliet’s actual mother has a more respectable and more formal relationship with her daughter. Lady Capulet knows less about her daughter and what she’s like than the nurse does. She gave birth to Juliet, but didn’t feed her and is more polite with her daughter. In the book, she seems kind of nervous to talk to Juliet alone (without the nurse). So she calls the nurse back in so that the nurse can back Lady Capulet’s feeling of Juliet marrying. This way the atmosphere won’t be so uncomfortable when Lady Capulet talks to Juliet. This scene basically shows what kind of acquaintance Juliet and her mother have. Still, Lady Capulet loves her daughter very much and tries to figure out what’s best for Juliet. Both the nurse and Lady Capulet love Juliet very much. It is a sort of motherly love that can’t be destroyed by any proper means.
Re: Claire Nowak
I agree with Claire that the nurse is more like Juliet’s mother than her nanny. Juliet’s relationship with her mother is defiantly very formal and Juliet’s mother only cares about how her daughter looks and behaves around other people. She can be mother-like, like when she asks about Juliet about being married and how she felt about it. Her mother wanted to know how she felt about marriage because she cared about her. She is also letting Juliet pick her own husband, so she can be happy. The nurse is way different than Juliet’s mother because she is from the lower class and she is not educated. The nurse is the person Juliet comes to with her problems. The nurse feels that Juliet is her own child because she lost her daughter and it would have be the same age as Juliet. The nurse even has a nick name for Juliet, and the mother doesn’t even know Juliet’s right age. The way that Juliet acts around her mother is different then the nurse. For example before Juliet’s mother walks into her room, Juliet makes sure she looks just right, and before she speaks to her mother she thought about what she was going to say. The nurse is more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet.
Lady Capulet can hardly be considered Juliet’s mother. Lady Capulet is a lady-like and formal woman who has little to do with her children. She rarely speaks to her daughter. On the occasions that they do have a conversation, the dialogue is firm and business like. The mother only requests her daughter’s presence when there is a matter of great importance. Lady Capulet does not help raise her child. The nurse does all of the work. Lady Capulet has not had much interaction in Juliet’s life. This is apparent when she requests Juliet’s presence to speak to her about Juliet’s outlook on marriage. On page 35, Lady Capulet ushers the nurse out of the room, but soon calls her back in as she realizes that she needs the nurse’s help to talk with Juliet. The reader can infer that Lady Capulet is uncomfortable being alone with her daughter and having a conversation with her because it so rarely occurs.
Juliet has a much closer relationship with her nurse. Juliet and the nurse have a mother-daughter relationship, even though they have no blood relations. The nurse is a caring, light-hearted woman who has tended to Juliet since birth. The nurse comforts Juliet when needed and accompanies her throughout the day. Juliet is not afraid of speaking to the nurse about her issues. The nurse is very compassionate towards Juliet because her daughter died when she was young. As strange as these two relationships sound, it was not uncommon during their time period.
re: Sarah Podufal
Sarah, you make a good point in saying that just because Lady Capulet dresses nicely and makes sure Juliet always looks good does not mean their relationship is good. It takes more than being just a fashion stylist to be close to someone. You have to actually know what the person like, how he or she acts, and what he or she is comfortable with. Because the nurse has been Juliet's confidante since birth, their relationship is much stronger than Juliet's with Lady Capulet.
RE: Kelley
Kelley I am in agreement with what you are saying. I really like how you say you think Lady Capulet has love to give, but just doesn’t know how to give it. The Nurse is definitely the more involved in Juliet’s life of the two women. As you said she has taken care of Juliet since infancy and she is the one who has shared all the special moments a mother and child should share. The bond the nurse and Juliet had only became stronger with the death of the nurse’s child at a very young age. When this occurred, the nurse really seemed to look at Juliet as her very own daughter. Lady Capulet has been much uninvolved in Juliet’s life, but I don’t think she did nothing at all. She is the one who has given her a home, has clothed her, and by example I believe she has tried to show Juliet how to act as a woman. I don’t see her as a mother to Juliet though. She can’t even hold a conversation with her own daughter because she has never had too before. Lady Capulet needs the nurse there to ease the awkwardness. The nurse, in my eyes is Juliet’s real mother, and Lady Capulet could learn a lot from her.
Re: Andrea Miller post
I do agree with Andrea on how both the nurse and Lady Capulet care for Juliet. The nurse cares about Juliet enjoying her life as a whole. However, Lady Capulet appears to want Juliet to enjoy the materialistic parts of life. The nurse is lower in socioeconomic status than the Capulets who are nobles. The Capulets are expected to behave in a certain way and that is what Lady Capulet is more concerned about. She is worried more about appearances and her daughter’s future than her overall happiness.
Juliet’s relationship with her mother varies greatly from her relationship with the nurse. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, is a young, unemotional character and is very caught up in the way she looks. The nurse is a very humorous, vulgar character that loves Juliet very much. Lady Capulet doesn’t show Juliet much affection and isn’t much of a mother to her. On the other hand, the nurse is very nurturing towards Juliet. The nurse lost her daughter a long time ago and now looks at Juliet as one of her own.
Both Lady Capulet and the nurse are mothers to Juliet but in completely different ways. Lady Capulet gave birth to Juliet, but that was the only role she played in raising her. The nurse breast fed Juliet and cared for her for fourteen years. Juliet’s mother can only offer her material things, not the love she is looking for. The nurse offers Juliet affection, friendship, and guidance. Juliet seems to feel like a stranger to her mother and doesn’t confide in her. Juliet feels comfortable with the nurse and tells her everything. They are like best friends. I can tell the nurse and Juliet are close because Juliet lets the nurse make jokes around her and the nurse has a nickname for her, Jules.
I feel that if I was put in Juliet’s shoes, I would probably react the same way towards Lady Capulet and the nurse. I find it sad that Juliet doesn’t have a relationship with her mother, but it is difficult to have a relationship with someone who keeps themselves closed off from everything
Juliet has different relationships with her mother and her nanny, due to her interactions with each woman from birth. The way Shakespeare portrays the relationship between Juliet and her mother seems very distant and not very close. Her mother dresses very elegantly and expects Juliet to at all times. She is even pushes for Juliet to get married when Juliet is still unclear if see is even ready. Lady Capulet’s communication skills are also very weak. When communicating with Juliet she is unclear on how to speak and get through to her. The relationship seems very distant and stressed.
The relationship between the nurse and Juliet is more of a friendship. From birth the nurse has done everything for Juliet. She has nursed her and even taught her how to walk as a baby. They are so close that she even calls her “Jules” (page 37) as if they are just best friends. Lady Capulet often needs the Nurses help when talking to Juliet. The Nurse seems to be more comfortable around Juliet, and Juliet seems to be more comfortable around the Nurse rather than her own mother. The Nurse is more of a predominant mother figure toward Juliet.
Re: Andrea's Comment
I agree with Andrea on this question. Although Lady Capulet gave birth to Juliet, she is not really a mother to her. The nurse has so much more to offer to Juliet. In the play, Juliet always looks to the nurse when she needs a shoulder to cry on, or some good advice. As Andrea mentioned, the nurse is very knowledgeable about Juliet’s childhood, and to Lady Capulet that is annoying. Also, when Lady Capulet needs to talk to Juliet about marriage, she is lost with words and asks the nurse to stay. The nurse was happy to stay and offer the advice that is needed. Overall, I think the nurse is more of a mother figure to Juliet, but Lady Capulet does still care about her daughter greatly.
I concur with you when you stated that a mother is not necessarily someone who gives birth to you, though that is a form of a mother, but is also someone who raises and cares for you. The nurse is truly more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet could possibly be, having offered her what sees to be friendship, love and guidance. Juliet appears to be quite close with the nurse as well, going to her for advice and favors, such as finding Romeo and conversing with him for her. The fact that the nurse is the one who breast-fed Juliet also plays a role in their close, mother daughter like relationship due to the hormones that Juliet took in while feeding, which is key to mother-daughter closeness. Lady Capulet is quite distant from Juliet in the sense of being a mother, and I believe this could be in part that Lady Capulet had Juliet at such a young age and maybe felt almost robbed of her child hood because of Juliet. This could cause some distance in their relationship because the mother did not have the chance to grow up in the stage Juliet is in because she did have her so young. Hence, Lady Capulet does not know how to relate to her since she never experienced thoroughly that part of her life.
RE: Erica Knoll
Erica expressed my thoughts almost exactly, especially about Lady Capulet. She does not seem to be much of a motherly figure, or much of a wife for that matter. She seems to be the kind of woman that is known today as a ‘gold digger’. She wants nothing to do with her husband or daughter, just that she looks good and is respected by everybody who knows her.
The nurse not only is Juliet’s mother figure, but also Juliet’s best friend. The two ladies can talk about anything, and love making dirty jokes towards each other. The nurse even went out of her way to find Romeo when Juliet was looking for him. That is a true friend.
Re: Kelley Foyle’s Comment
Personally, I think that you came to the same conclusion as I did when discussing the relationships between Juliet and her mother, and Juliet and the nurse because we both came into an agreement that the nurse has a friendlier and more loving relationship with Juliet than Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet looks upon her own daughter as almost an acquaintance because it’s hard for her to have a simple conversation with Juliet. I think part of the reason is because in Shakespeare’s time, children from wealthy families were not meant to be raised by their mothers. Instead, a caretaker of some sort, weather it’s a nurse or nanny, would take care of the children in a wealthy family. Kelley, you also have a good point mentioning that the nurse had a daughter about the same age as Juliet who passed away. It clearly makes sense that the nurse would take Juliet in as her own daughter. The nurse also learns to be herself around Juliet and isn’t afraid to show her emotions or crack up her jokes as opposed to Lady Capulet.
Re: Hannah Rea:
I totally agree with Hannah. Yes, Lady Capulet is the biological mother of Juliet, but she does not in any way play the part a mother should. Mothers should be aware of their children and the feelings of their children. In my group of my 4 closest girl friends, I know that all 4 of their mothers know who they like. And not just because the girls are dating them, because in 2 of the 4 cases, the girls are not dating the guy they like. I know for a fact that my mother knows who I like. My mother also knows my grades, how my day went, when I'm upset, when I'm happy, when I'm PMS-ing, etc etc. Even those of my friends that do not have the greatest relationship with his or her mother still maintains a loving, deep relationship with his or her mom. One thing I would like to add to what Hannah said about this topic is the physicality of Juliet and the nurse versus the physicality of Juliet and Lady Capulet. In the movie, the nurse and Juliet are very comfortable about touching the other, but Lady Capulet and Juliet are very distant, and almost seem awkward when they are around each other.
RE: Claire Nowak
I see where you're coming from Claire. I found myself thinking the same things about the Nurse and Lady Capulet's relationship with Juliet. It does seem as if Lady Capulet is only there to discipline Juliet and make sure she looks alright. The only thing I wasn't in accordance with response is your last statement, "Juliet loves the nurse, but I wonder if she ever resents her at times because she is the reason Juliet isn’t close to her own mother." I personally don't think that Juliet could ever resent the Nurse for being apart of her life. I also don't believe that the Nurse is the reason why Juliet and her mother aren't close. If the Nurse was never apart of the Capulet family, Juliet would probably be a little more independent and find friendships in other places. Yes, Lady Capulet would've been forced to do essential motherly things like feeding, dressing, etc., but that doesn't neccesarily make you close to your daughter when you do those tasks for them.
Juliet has a very contrasting relationship between her mother and the nurse. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, is a prim and proper woman. She doesn’t spend any known quality time with her daughter. Lady Capulet is usually too busy attending the finest parties and getting elegantly dressed up for the next one that will be held. An example that she doesn’t know her daughter very well is on page 29. The nurse had to tell her mother when her birthday was. Lady Capulet said, “She’s not fourteen.” The nurse corrected her and stated, “Even or odd, of all the days in the year, Come Lammas Eve at night shall be fourteen.” Her mother had her when she was just a teenager, so this may contribute to why they aren’t very close. Another reason they may not be very close is because she wasn’t the one who nursed Juliet and raised her. The nurse was the one who nursed Juliet as an infant. She was also the one who raised her into the girl she is now. On page 30, the nurse describes her breast feeding Juliet, while Lord and Lady Capulet were at Mantua. She also talks about watching Juliet running and waddling about.
Each woman offers a complete different term of how to raise Juliet. Lady Capulet shows her daughter that she cares by giving her the finest clothes, the biggest palace to live in, and lots of money. Her mother is just worried about the public and how they view her. She is the one who showed Juliet how to behave in public, but not the one who bonds and spends time with her. On the other hand, the nurse reflects qualities of a mother. She treats Juliet as if she were her own daughter by showing her affection and how much she cares for Juliet. They talk about everything and she spends a lot of time with her. The nurse loves to make jokes about sex with Juliet. This is something her mother would never do. On page 37, it shows that the nurse is close enough to Juliet to give her a nickname of “Jule”. The nurse is also the woman Juliet goes to when she had a question about Romeo on the night of the party (page 44). Juliet asks, “Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?” She asks the nurse to go investigate who the mysterious man was. I feel a mother should act like a true mother who cares for her daughter and wants to spend time with her. That is the complete opposite feeling for Lady Capulet. I feel she has her priorities in the wrong order, especially when being the most looked up to Lady is more important than being with your only daughter. I feel the way she acts with the nurse should be how she acts with her mother. The times Juliet does spend with the nurse are wonderful. She is so caring to Juliet and provides for her in the aspects that her mother lacks.
RE: Hannah and Bekah
Stating that giving birth to Juliet was Lady Capulet’s only role in parenting is slightly unreasonable. While the interaction between the Lady Capulet and Juliet may be very limited, Juliet’s mother presents herself as fantastic role-model. It is very likely that if a well-mannered figure did not exist in Juliet’s life, Juliet would have only her servants and her nurse to learn from. Most likely, Juliet would not speak in iambic pentameter and would use English poorly without a mother of great decorum such as Lady Capulet.
Juliet has very different relationships with the nurse and her mother. The nurse is a very layed back person and she is not very proper as opposed to the other characters in the play. She is portrayed as someone who is not very bright and uneducated. she basically raised Juliet as if she was her own child. Her daughter died so Juliet in a way sort of replaced her daughter. The nurse is not only a motherly figure to Juliet but she is also like a friend to her. Juliet trusts her and talks to her as if they were good friends. Juliet has a much different relationship with her mother. Her mother is a very proper person and is portrayed as a person who is very high up in society. Unlike the nurse Juliet's mother is a very respected person. Juliet is very distant from her mother. She doesn't have a very strong relationship with her. It almost seems like she is afraid of her. Juliet's mother wants her to marry Paris, but she doesn't really want to. The nurse speaks highly of Paris but doesn't push her towards anything. I think that is another reason why Juliet seems to favor the nurse.
Juliet’s relationships with her mother and the nurse are very diverse. The nurse is sort of a rude person saying disgusting things sometimes, but she loves Juliet as if she was her own daughter. She has raised Juliet since birth, even nursing her. The nurse has contributed to Juliet more than Lady Capulet has. Juliet can talk to her about things that she would talk with friends about. At the party she even asks the nurse to go and talk to Romeo, to find out who he is. This shows how close Juliet and the Nurse are. Unlike Juliet’s relationship with the nurse her connection with her mother is very uncomfortable. Lady Capulet is a very proper, highly regarded woman who cares about her reputation among the higher classes. Lady Capulet has not spent much time with her daughter and doesn’t know Juliet very well. She finds it awkward to talk with her daughter about things, for example getting married. She even asks the nurse to assist her with talking to Juliet. This demonstrates how little time Lady Capulet has put into raising her daughter. For modern times the relationships between Juliet and the nurse and Juliet and her mother, Lady Capulet, are contrary.
Re: Kelley:
I agree with the fact that Juliet's mother has love to give but just doesn't know how to give it. Since Lady Capulet has been absent from most of juliet's life she doesn't know her very well. She doesn't know how to talk to her. For example when she wanted to speak to Juliet about getting married she didn't know what to say, so she asked the nurse to stay.
Re: Sarah Rea: You make some good points regarding the relationship between Juliet, the nurse, and Juliet's mother. We both seemed to notice that Juliet has a much stronger bond with the nurse than with her own mother, and that Juliet's relationship with her mother is very formal. However, the tone of your comment suggested that you thought Juliet's mother does not love Juliet as much as the nurse. I interpreted the play slightly differently. I believe that both the nurse and Juliet's mother both love Juliet equally, they just express their love differently. Juliet's mother gave birth to Juliet, and that creates a special bond that I don't think can be overshadowed by the nurse's relationship with Juliet. Both the nurse and Juliet's mother love the girl very dearly, but I think that they just express their love in different manners.
Juliet’s relationships with her mother and the nurse are extraordinarily different from each other. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, is a wealthy woman and is married to a wealthy man who holds a large amount of power in the city of Verona. Her relationship with her teenage daughter Juliet is detached and emotionless. In my opinion, it seems almost ceremonious; the few interactions Juliet has with her mother are merely formal conversations. I assume that Lady Capulet does care for her daughter; however, she does an extremely poor job of showing it. She offers a more formal way of raising Juliet; I think of it almost as an official relationship.
In extreme contrast, Juliet’s nurse, known in the play simply as “The Nurse,” has a very close emotional bond with Juliet. She is portrayed in the story as a “rough” woman, often providing comic relief by making crude jokes and sexual references. The nurse is more of a motherly figure to Juliet that Juliet’s own mother is. This probably stems from the fact that she nursed Juliet when she was first born and been the main caregiver to Juliet since that time. In addition, the nurse had a child of her own that died very young, so she may have taken Juliet under her wing as a kind of substitute to her departed daughter. Juliet’s interactions with the nurse are much more informal than the interactions she has with her mother. Although I can’t say this from personal experience, the nurse seems like an older sister to Juliet. Juliet can talk with the nurse about her life, and she even asks the nurse to find out Romeo’s name at the end of the party in Act I Scene V. This shows the personal relationship that Juliet has with the nurse.
Re: Lauren Cooper
Lauren,
I agree with your comment about Juliet having somewhat of two mother figures. The nurse is the fun, loving and outgoing one and Lady Capulet has a more formal relationship with Juliet. Lady Capulet’s relationship with Juliet is somewhat of the same relationship she has with her other acquaintances. She wants the best for Juliet, but she holds her to high standards and expects her to be almost perfect. The nurse on the other hand is more outgoing and care free then Lady Capulet. Many of times the nurse is seen telling a dirty joke in the presence o Juliet, which is frowned upon by Lady Capulet. I also agree with you where you say that Lady Capulet knows less about Juliet than the nurse does. In the scene when Lady Capulet tries to convince Juliet to marry Paris, Lady Capulet forgets Juliet’s age and has the nurse remind her. Also the whole time she was conversing with Juliet, Lady Capulet seemed to be uncomfortable, possibly because she has never had such an in depth conversation with her own daughter before. I believe that the combination of Lady Capulet’s serious demeanor and the nurse’s care-free attitude is perfect for Juliet growing up because she has Lady Capulet to keep her in check, but she also has the nurse for some comic relief.
RE: Brian
I thought you raised an interesting point when you noted that “Lady Capulet often needs the Nurse’s help when talking to Juliet.” In Act I Scene III, Lady Capulet wants to speak with Juliet. She says, “This is the matter- Nurse, give leave awhile/We must talk in secret—nurse, come back again;” Shakespeare is clearly trying to portray how uncomfortable Lady Capulet feels when alone with her daughter. This also illustrates the close emotional relationship between the nurse and Juliet.
RE: Molly
Molly offers very accurate descriptions of both Lady Capulet and Juliet’s Nurse, and I agree with her opinions and her ideas about Juliet’s relationship with these two women. Lady Capulet is uptight and formal, she is concerned about her family’s wealth, social standing and acceptability, and with her daughter’s marriage prospects. She is stiff and cold, and as Molly said, uncomfortable. The Nurse, however, is a great parallel to Lady Capulet’s frigid personality. From the moment she is introduced in the play it is obvious that the Nurse is good natured, humorous, and unconcerned with what others think of her and her inappropriate behavior. Another obvious fact is that both women love Juliet, though in different ways as Molly said. The Nurse shows her love for Juliet by acting as her confidante and taking care of her all day, everyday. Juliet feels comfortable with her and is even able to ask her about Romeo and send her to seek him out. Lady Capulet also loves her daughter but only in more of a distant way. I like Molly’s idea that states that Lady Capulet is more of a social role model. I agree with this thought as Lady Capulet is more apt to show Juliet how to dress and present herself rather than caring for her daughter as the Nurse does so lovingly. Both women show their love for Juliet, they just have different ways of displaying their affection.
RE: Amanda
The roles for the nurse and Mrs. Capulet are definitely reversed. The nurse has been there for Juliet ever since she was born and has cared for her all her life. Lady Capulet just serves as Juliet's guide and doesn't really do much for her besides set her rules and order her what to do. I also believe that the nurse took over as the motherly role because of the fact that she lost her child. I think that the nurse acted more as a mother towards Juliet since she could not do that to a child of her own.
RE: Brian
I agree with Brian that the relationship between Juliet and the nurse resembles a strong friendship. Lady Capulet is just an authoritative figure in Juliet's life who teaches her how to be proper and act appropriately in the public eye. Being in the upper class and the only daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, Juliet's life is very uptight and full of stress. The nurse, being the motherly figure that she is, teaches Juliet how to enjoy life and joke around. Juliet's nurse is like a fun-loving mother who just wants Juliet to act her age and have some fun. I believe the best kind of mother is one who is able to be your best friend, but balance that with the ability to act like a parent and guide you through any situation. Because of their history together, Juliet can find this motherly figure in her nurse.
RE: Sarah Rea
I agree with Sarah that Juliet has a very different relationship between her actual mother, Lady Capulet, and the nurse. Her nurse makes very dirty, funny comments, while Lady Capulet is very stiff and well spoken. In reality, I do agree with Sarah that the nurse is her real mother. The nurse and Juliet made this connection because the nurse has always been there for her. Lady Capulet has always been too busy or didn’t want to deal with her daughter. Dealing with people, being around them, and being there for them when they need you are all way that you can form a bond with people. Lady Capulet clearly has never done any of those things with her daughter so she has no idea what to do when she needs to talk to Juliet about something important, She shows that she doesn’t know what to do with her daughter when she asks the nurse to stay when she is discussing marrying Paris with Juliet.
Re: Danny’s comment:
First off, I want to commend you for an excellent use of vocabulary in your response. I admire your use of some words that I did not know the meaning too, and had to “google.” I agree with you precisely. I too feel that the nurse is more like a mother to her than her real mother is and that in addition the nurse is also like a friend to her. The nurse makes many sexual remarks which I feel really gives her the immaturity that you would find in a young friend. I find this sad that as you stated that Juliet goes to the nurse to find out about her “crush”, Romeo than her mother. This closer connection to the nurse than the mother I find to be sad, in a pitiful way. Juliet does not know that Romeo is a Montague yet so it can’t be the family feud that keeps her from asking her mother. To answer your rhetorical question; I am not sure that the immature wet nurse is the most suitable to be guiding her in her relationship with Romeo. However, on the other hand looking at the alternative, I know that her mother is diffidently not suitable for guiding her in her relationship because the mother would most likely try to put an end to this relationship right away. So, the way I see it, the lesser of two evils is clearly the nurse.
RE: Doug Squire’s Post
Doug, I loved the point you made about Juliet’s mother not actually having a “real daughter”. While she does have a daughter in the sense of the word, she doesn’t actually exhibit the motherly characteristics that one would expect in a true mother/daughter relationship. In my opinion, Juliet’s mother acts solely as an authoritative figure in Juliet’s eyes. She is one who tells Juliet how to act, dress, and exhibit herself in a proper manner. For instance, she tries to have her daughter begin looking for a husband like other girls at her age typically did. However, Juliet does not see a motherly figure in Lady Capulet. Juliet clearly shows more “daughterly” affection towards the nurse. Juliet and Lady Capulet cannot even have a true conversation without the assistance of the Nurse, Juliet’s motherly figure. All of this is evidence that proves Doug’s point, which states that Juliet’s mother has missed out on being a “mother”. Her relationship with her daughter is very awkward, and she even admits that the nurse has a better relationship with Juliet on page 35 (“Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age”). It’s a shame that Juliet’s mother cannot act as a true “mother”, but it’s nice that she has the nurse as a motherly figure.
Re: Molly McWilliams:
Molly demonstrates a great illustration of Lady Capulet’s attitude towards a person social status through her explanation of Lady Capulet’s constant aspiration of a higher social condition. I concur that Lady Capulet stands as a role model for Juliet to look up to. At times a young naive adolescent needs more assistance through her life than her mother can give her. Lady Capulet may very well be a great mother, but the nurse has always been the constant adult person in Juliet’s life. Subsequent to reading Molly’s reply to the prompt it brought further thoughts to mind. For the reason that Lady Capulet is perhaps overly fanatical about her arrangement in society could be the explanation to the disconnection amid Juliet and herself. It is feasible that Lady Capulet by no means had an opportunity to verify her true aptitude to raise a child. Although people of Shakespearean time believe in servants tending to the young, I consider Lady Capulet as being judged unjustly.
I agree with many of Hannah’s points. Lady Capulet has a very rigid personality, and she is quite self conscious. She is a bit shallow, mainly concerned with her appearance. Lady Capulet attempts to convey a wealthy, lady-like image. She wishes to mold her daughter Juliet, into a similar image. Lady Capulet is not much of a mother to Juliet, except for the fact that she provides for her. On the contrary, the nurse offers much more to Juliet. The nurse cares for Juliet, gives her advice, and acts as a great friend to Juliet. She seems to truly care about Juliet and her well being. The relationship between Juliet and the Nurse is much healthier than the one between Juliet and her mother. However, I do think Lady Capulet does really care for Juliet. I believe Lady Capulet’s personality prohibits her from being a true motherly figure to Juliet. Although, the nurse’s outgoing and nurturing tendencies make up for Lady Capulet’s failure to be a mother. The nurse is a great influence for Juliet, in the absence of her real mother.
Re: Sarah's Comment:
Sarah said that the nurse, by today's definition, is more of a mother to Juliet than her actual birth mother is. I agree entirely. The nurse is able to relate to and love Juliet as her own child, whereas Lady Capulet is incapable of even talking to Juliet without someone else in the room.
The nurse is somewhat like an adoptive mother. She cares for and loves Juliet, probably mostly because the nurse does not have a child of her own. I think that if the nurse's child had lived, Juliet may not have had as close of a relationship to the nurse as she does. But I also believe that either way, Juliet and her mother would still have a distant and hardly existent relationship.
Re: Amanda:
After rereading the original prompt, I recall the concise portrayal of Lady Capulet and Juliet and conclude with feelings of the two being entirely contradictory. Lady Capulet’s way of raising Juliet could have clashed with Juliet’s thoughts on life. For myself I believe that the nurse is better suited as a mother for Juliet. Amanda uses great expressions to depict Lady Capulet and show how she treats Juliet. I coincide with her thoughts on Lady Capulet treating Juliet as a business colleague as a substitute to an indispensable mother. In other words, the nurse has better characteristics for a motherly figure. As Amanda affirmed previously that Lady Capulet and the Nurse’s positions of guidance are reversed, I believe that this reverse in supervision benefits one and all. I concur with Amanda on how she portrays each characters role.
Re: Emily Symes:
Emily's insight to the problems of class portrayed in Romeo and Juliet really interested me. While the nobility can teach the formalities of society, it is the peasant class that might enjoy life even more, so both the women bring different aspects to Juliet's life. Being from a family of higher stature, Lady Capulet is most likely, as Emily mentioned, teaching Juliet how to dance and sew, and other things the lady of the house should know. This would be fine, however there is no emotional connection to her daughter. It can be said that the peasant class may not have as much, but have a more exuberant life, so Juliet is attracted to the opposite of her structured lifestyle. Emily's last statement about how maybe the woman Juliet suckled from is more the mother figure in her life was extremely observant, and I think that because the Nurse lost her daughter Susan, Juliet took her place in her heart.
The relationship Juliet has with her mother and the Nurse are two very different relationships. With her mother she gets along very well and her mother does love her. However her mother is more like a guiding figure in her life. Her mother is never unkind to her but they never seem to play around like Juliet and the Nurse do.
The relationship Juliet has with the Nurse is more of a friendship. The Nurse still does look after Juliet since she helped raise her but the nurse also plays the role of a friend and confidant for Juliet, especially when she meets Romeo. The Nurse goes and finds out who Romeo is just like a friend probably would.
Overall thought I think Juliet has a good relationship with both her mother and the Nurse.
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